The Perfect Christmas: The Perfect Christmas / Can This Be Christmas?. Debbie Macomber

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       Chapter 3

      A few minutes later, Cassie reached for her phone on impulse and dialed Angie’s number.

      “Hello? Oh, Cassie, I was hoping you’d call. How’d the appointment go?”

      “Do you like taco salad?” Cassie asked rather than answering.

      “Is there any food group I don’t like?” Her friend had a smile in her voice.

      “Silly question. Come join us.”

      “Us?”

      “Yes, Shawn stopped by. I’m making a taco salad and if you have fresh tomatoes bring one. If not, we’ll do without.”

      “Shawn’s there? Your brother?”

      “That’s what I just said. Are you coming or not?”

      “I’m on my way, and I’ve got a tomato,” Angie said, “but when I get there, I want details about the meeting with Dr. Dodson.”

      Shawn grabbed an orange from her fruit bowl and tossed it in the air, juggling it with an apple and doing a poor job. The orange hit the floor and rolled into the living room. “I’m glad you invited Angie. How’s she doing?”

      “You know Angie. She’s always in a good mood.”

      Her brother retrieved the orange. “Well…it’ll be nice to see her again.”

      Cassie nodded absently as she began to sauté the ground beef.

      By the time Angie arrived, Cassie had the hamburger with taco sauce simmering together. The salad fixings were in a large bowl, awaiting Angie’s tomato. Shawn was grating the cheese.

      Angie brightened the moment she walked into the room. “Shawn, it’s great to see you.”

      “You, too.” He set the cheese down long enough to give her a brief hug. Cassie always forgot how tiny her friend was until Angie stood next to her brother, who was well over six feet.

      While Cassie got out the bag of tortilla chips and assembled the rest of the salad, Angie set the table and Shawn filled their water glasses. “Sorry I don’t have any sangria,” Cassie said as she carried the large wooden bowl to the table. Smaller bowls of meat, cheese and chips followed.

      “This looks wonderful,” Angie told her.

      “Allow me.” Shawn pulled out Angie’s chair. Then he hurried around to the other side of the table to do the same for Cassie.

      “Since when have you acquired gentlemanly manners?” Cassie asked.

      Jokingly Shawn checked his watch. “About five minutes ago.”

      “Perfect timing.”

      “I’m dying to hear how everything went this afternoon,” Angie said, her fork poised over the salad. “How was the meeting with…Dr. Dodson?” She glanced toward Shawn as if she wasn’t sure she should say any more.

      “It’s okay.” Cassie nodded. “He knows all about it.”

      Shawn rolled his eyes. “Personally I think she’s nuts. So, what’s the story with you and this matchmaker?”

      Angie ignored the question and returned her attention to Cassie. “Don’t keep me in suspense. What was your impression when you met him?”

      “He’s abrupt and ill-mannered, don’t you agree?”

      “That’s putting it mildly.” She turned to Shawn. “He rejected me. I didn’t make it past the initial interview. I’ll admit it was a blow to my ego but I felt I had to tell Cassie about him.”

      “I can’t believe he’d reject you.” Shawn looked genuinely outraged on Angie’s behalf. “I don’t understand why either of you would have any interest in someone who seems to enjoy insulting you.”

      “Why?” Cassie answered. “We’re getting desperate, that’s why. It’s not easy to meet decent men, you know!”

      “Not at our age,” Angie added.

      “See that picture of Jill and Tom?” Cassie said, pointing to her refrigerator. “She has the perfect life, the perfect family and is about to have the perfect Christmas. I want all that.”

      “Me, too,” Angie murmured fervently. “And so far I haven’t even come close.”

      Shawn blinked. “You two are actually serious?”

      “Serious enough to pay thirty thousand bucks to find the right man.”

      Shawn’s eyebrows shot up. “How much?”

      Cassie didn’t feel like repeating it. “You heard me.”

      Shaking his head, Shawn muttered something about being in the wrong business.

      Angie sighed. “It’s a ridiculous amount of money, I know, but from what I understand, it’s worth every penny—if you’re accepted, that is. Now, Cassie, tell me about your meeting with Dr. Dodson.”

      Mentally reviewing the appointment, Cassie suffered more than a few doubts. “I don’t think I went over well.”

      “But you have a second appointment, right?”

      “Supposedly.” Cassie shrugged. “He said he’d call…?.”

      “Cassie, that’s great! Dr. Dodson read my application, took one look at me and said he didn’t have anyone who’d suit me.”

      That wasn’t precisely what Angie had told her earlier. Simon had apparently said she already held feelings for someone. If that was the case, Cassie didn’t have any idea who it might be. She wished she’d questioned her further, but at the time she’d been too interested in hearing about this matchmaker and now didn’t seem appropriate. Especially since Angie was obviously reluctant to talk about her own situation. The man in question must’ve been someone she’d met years ago, which was what Angie had implied. It certainly wasn’t anyone Cassie knew, and they’d worked together for six years.

      “Tell us what he said,” Angie urged.

      “Simon was pretty rude,” Cassie said between bites of her salad. She added another layer of crushed tortilla chips to the lettuce.

      “How?” Shawn asked. “I want specifics.”

      “Well, СКАЧАТЬ